AINOS MARATHON 40.5km

Distance: 40,500m

Altitude: 2,360m

THE ROUTE

Start of the Race at 07:00 am. from the village of Pyrgi to the square of the Church of All Saints in the Harakti settlement.

From the square we go down the asphalt and at 550 m. we enter a path that then becomes uphill. At the 3rd km, on the outskirts of the fir forests, follow the dirt road to the left. At 4.5 km at the wells location is the 1st Stake of the race. At this point on the right we enter a beautiful continuous uphill path for 3.5 km. We exit onto a dirt road where the 2nd Stek is located. Then we turn left on a gentle descent that ends at the 3rd stake at 12 km in the position of Petasi or “Kissos”. Here we turn right onto a path that leads us to the beginning of the Ainos ridge. “This part of the route at an altitude of more than 1500 meters is probably the only one on an island in the world with a panoramic view of the sea for 8.5 km.” We will pass by the highest peak of the mountain “Megas Soros” (1628 m.) and then we will end up at the location “Xionistra” where the 4th Stack is also.

We continue along the path of the ridge and in 3 km we reach the asphalt. In 300 meters we turn left on a steep path that leads us to the lowest western point of the route. There, at the pillar with an incredible view, we turn right on the new part of the route with a difficult uphill path for 1 and a half km, which then goes through a fir forest to the place “Eza” at the gate of the Forest at 31 km, where the 6th Stek is also located.

Then follows a downhill road path for 3 km. Then we meet a dirt road on the right and at 37 km we find the 7th Stek. Here we turn left and from a downhill path we reach the asphalt and passing through the settlements of Tsakarisiano, Sofata and Digaleto where we finish the race in the square where we started.